“They say that life is made up of moments; moments that sharpen your senses and reinforce your vision and when your sense unite, you realize how fortunate you are to be in the moment and recognize it for what it is – a window in time. “

I wrote this just on a year ago now, never thinking I would be writing about Christchurch in the same situation. A year ago I was blind to the concept of what an earthquake could really be like. Terror is a word, sadness, loss, munted are more that help describe the City I live in.  All these words are true for me as for many others, and I have days of knowing I must get up, I hear myself say in the mirror “Getup, when you get down Get Up”

So what is getting up: I pondered this for a while, rebuild my house? relocate my business? find a place to live?or is that just things I have to do.  “Getting up” after days of reflection I decide that “Getting Up” must be fill of  JOY and HAPPINESS, being the best person you can be despite all,”Getting Up” is holding out a hand to help someone else up to so I AM” Getting Up” and putting together something to share that is full of friends and joy and happiness to help others Get up as well.

Many of you have requested more tours and at the time I felt so broken and everything around seemed broken, I just couldn’t see my way clear to organise them. Now I get that the way starts with one small step.

This years Tours will be

Tour to Bali in August - this is a “Calm Down Tour”, I think this should work very well for my friends in Christchurch right now.

Tour to Italy in September - ” The art of being Happy, no matter what Tour”

Both tours are named because of my experience in Christchurch in the past 6 months and are skills I have forgotten for a moment in time.

If you or anybody you know is interested in either of these tour contact me robyn@globalgourmets.com.

This is really why I love Italy so much, they seem to have it down to a fine art… “The Art of Being Happy”.

On a river cruise, you’ll not only view incredible sights along the legendary waterways  of the Rhine,  Danube,  - you’ll also connect with the real destination. It’s a simple way to travel but you’ll be in the heart of each town, not seeing it from afar. Comprehensive sightseeing, your own exploration, and our sightseeing tours with Local Guides add to your authentic river cruising experience.

You’ll enjoy fine food, impeccable service and lovely scenery while travelling on your river cruiser, with no packing and unpacking or worrying about logistics to waste your vacation time.

There are plenty of opportunities to unwind. Relax on deck, take photos, enjoy conversation with family or new friends. Think of this as your own personal journey of discovery with an abundance of that precious commodity – leisure time.

See the highlights of Central Europe on this enchanting cruise between Amsterdam and Budapest. Guided sightseeing in each city shows you the highlights, with an authentic baking demonstration in Miltenberg, a beer tasting in Nuremberg, and inside visits of Würzburg’s Residenz, Regensburg’s Old Chapel, the Benedictine Abbey in Melk, St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava, and Fishermen’s Bastion in Budapest. Also cruise through the scenic canals of Amsterdam and sail through the dramatic Rhine Gorge past the legendary rock of the Lorelei.

Visited Cities
Amsterdam, Cologne, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Miltenberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Main Danube Canal, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Melk, Durnstein, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest

Meals
Breakfast – 14
Lunch – 13
Dinner – 14

Standard Features
CRUISE: Deluxe 14-night cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest in an outside stateroom with hotel-style beds (Category E)
AMSTERDAM: Welcome reception; canal cruise
COLOGNE: Guided sightseeing
RHINE GORGE: Cruise through the gorge
RUDESHEIM: Visit Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum; special treat
MILTENBERG: Guided sightseeing; baking demonstration
WURZBURG: Guided sightseeing, visit the Bishop’s Residenz
BAMBERG: Guided sightseeing; see the Old Town Hall
MAIN DANUBE CANAL: Cruise in the canal
NUREMBERG: Guided sightseeing; beer tasting
REGENSBURG: Guided sightseeing
PASSAU: Guided sightseeing
MELK: Guided visit of the Benedictine Abbey
DURNSTEIN: Guided walk, see the Stiftskirche
VIENNA: Guided sightseeing
BRATISLAVA: Guided sightseeing, visit St. Martin’s Cathedral
BUDAPEST: Guided sightseeing, visit Fishermen’s Bastion

ON BOARD GRATUITIES: All onboard gratuities for the Cruise Director and Crew are included

MEALS: Superb dining with all meals on board daily featuring full breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D), including a welcome reception, Captain’s reception, and farewell dinner, quality wines from Europe’s most famous wine regions with every dinner; one sitting with open seating arrangements

As 2010 draws to a very welcome close, I am giving thanks for the wonderful things that the year has presented to me and one of the great gifts was the tour to Bali in September.  There are times in your life when no matter what is going on, you realise you are blessed. “NO MATTER WHAT.”

Bali with 10 wonderful women from Perth and UK was magic for everybody.  A time to Calm Down – Share in the magic of life and living in the moment. Bali is a place that can quickly get your batteries recharged and recieve the pampering energy you deserve. Yoga, Meditation, Rice Fields, Shopping, Laughter – ohhh the laughter was great.

THE LAUGHTER:

Bali Tour

CALM DOWN:

The Balicalmdownpath…. ( Thank You Miss Jan & Miss Andi)

Miss Andi – Your Smile could light up the world, Miss Clara – The complete joy from the photo in the car on the way to the airport says’s it all. “Bliss for you my girl” (who has the pic?)

Miss Lisa – the gift of finally meeting you, sharing time and your beauty of spirit. Oh and Spa’s and Shopping was a treasure for me. HOWEVER : they really do need to make bigger Bikinis.

Your enthusiasm and support made my job a joy and I am excited about the possibility of creating another tour.

For others that want to share in the magic that is Bali – beyond Kuta… I welcome you to join in the conversation.  As the Tour Dates for 2011 unfold and bookings get made we are all on this journey together, its our choice to make it fun and fantastic…

I have no doubt that the Tours to Bali in 2011 will be even more fun, exciting and blissfully rejuvenating.

Join the conversation, the tour or arm chair travel with us to Bali.

LOVE BLISS AND MUCH GRATITUDE

Miss Wobyn

“The Earlybird flights to Europe offer top value for next year’s European travel season, and with travellers’ sights returning to long-haul destinations, we expect a lot of interest in this,” said Emirates’ New Zealand Manager Chris Lethbridge.

“We also have the advantage of an increased baggage allowance that is 10kg above the levels of most other airlines. This, together with a superior in-flight entertainment system of up to 1,000 channels of on-demand movies, audio and TV, and a wide network of destinations in flights to Europe, is a considerable offering for those with Europe travel plans.”

Emirates  – flights to Europe flies its modern, wide-bodied jets – including its flagship A380 super-jumbo – four times daily from New Zealand to Dubai and beyond via Australia.

The airline offers the choice of direct flights to 25 points in Europe from its Dubai hub. These include six airports in the United Kingdom, four in Germany, and three in Italy, as well as new destinations Amsterdam, Prague, and Madrid.

Sample return flights to Europe on sale between now and 15 November (Business Class fares in brackets) include:

From Auckland or Christchurch to – Madrid $2,156 (Business Class $7,656), Istanbul $2,159 ($7,659), Milan $2,168 ($7,668), Rome $2,168 ($7,668), Venice $2,168 ($7,668), Moscow $2,170, ($7,670), Prague $2,177 ($7,677), Vienna $2,183 ($7,683), Amsterdam $2,191 ($7,691), Nice $2,196 ($7,760), Zurich $2,196 ($7,696), Athens $2,214 ($7,714), Paris $2,221 ($7,785), Frankfurt $2,280 ($7,780), Manchester $2,342 ($8,023), Newcastle $2,348 ($8,029), London $2,370 ($8,051).

Fares are inclusive of all taxes and levies. Stated Economy Class fares are valid for travel starting between 17 January and 31 March 2011. Seasonal surcharges apply for travel between 1 April and 30 September 2011. Business Class fares are valid for travel between 17 January and 30 September 2011.

Final fully inclusive fares may vary depending on the date of departure, final destination, flight routing and stopovers taken. Various conditions apply.

These fares also include Emirates’ generous baggage allowance of 30kg for Economy Class passengers, 40kg for Business and 50kg for First; giving passengers the flexibility to carry significantly more baggage.

As well as daily A380 flights from Auckland to Dubai via Sydney, Emirates also operates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with lie-flat Business Class seating and private suites in First Class. The Boeing 777-300ER operates on Emirates’ daily services from Auckland to Dubai (via Melbourne) and Christchurch to Dubai (via Sydney and Bangkok). Effective 02 January 2011 Emirates will introduce the B777-300ER on its Auckland to Dubai (via Brisbane) service.

For bookings or more details call 0800Flyaway

Air New Zealand now operate a simple domestic airfare structure for travel on Air New Zealand’s domestic network.

Our fares give you the simplicity of one-way pricing and the choice of traveling on either a flexible fare or a lower priced Smart Saver fare.

You can travel with these fares throughout 26 New Zealand domestic airfare destinations from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

You can mix-and-match your fares in each direction of your journey. So, if you know exactly when you are leaving, but need more flexibility around your return date, you could choose a lower priced Smart Saver fare on the way out, and a more flexible  domestic airfare Flexi Plus fare on the way back.

Learn about different types by selecting from the list above. You’ll need to know about the rules and conditions when selecting your fares since some types are non-refundable and become non-changeable on the day of travel. Pick the domestic airfare option that best suits your travel needs.

The following international airlines currently serve New Zealand (IATA two-letter code)(period of service):

New Zealand International Airlines

Air New Zealand (NZ)(1940-) – name changed from Tasman Empire Airways (TEAL) in 1965 (TE) – includes Zeal 320

Pacific Blue (DJ)(2004-) – a Single Aviation Market (SAM) airline and subsidiary of Virgin Blue

Foreign Airlines Operating Aircraft to New Zealand

Aerolineas Argentinas (AR)(1985-) – the airline also has a New Zealand site

Air Caledonie International (SB)(1987-)

Air Pacific (FJ)(1974-)

Air Tahiti Nui (TN)(2000-)

Air Vanuatu (NF)(1989-)

Tasman Cargo Airlines (HJ)(1997-) – (formerly Asian Express) an Australian cargo airline working for DHL

Cargolux Airlines International (CV)(1999-)

Cathay Pacific (CX)(1983-84, 1984-)

Emirates Airline (EK)(2003-)

Jetstar Airways (JQ)(2005-) – a subsidiary of Qantas

Korean Air (KE)(1993-)

LAN Airlines (LA)(Code-share 1996-2000, 2002-) – name changed from LanChile

Malaysia Airlines (MH)(1989-)

Pacific Blue Airlines (Aust) (DJ)(2005-) – a subsidiary of Virgin Blue

Polynesian Blue (DJ)(2005-)

Qantas Airways (QF)(1961-)

Royal Brunei Airlines (BI)(2003-)

Singapore Airlines (SQ)(1976-)

Singapore Airlines Cargo (SQ)(2001-)

Thai Airways International (TG)(1987-)

International Airlines Serving New Zealand on a Code-Share Only Basis

Air Canada (AC)(1998-) – on UA and NZ aircraft

Air China (CA)(Own-aircraft 2000-2001, Code-share 2007-) – on NZ aircraft

American Airlines (AA)(1970-1974, 1990-1992, 1995-) – on QF aircraft

Austrian (OS)(2003-) – on NZ aircraft

British Airways (BA)(1963-) – on QF and CX aircraft

China Eastern (MU)(2008) – on QF aircraft

Delta Air Lines (DL)(2003-) – on KE aircraft

Etihad Airways NEW (EY)(2009-) – on QF aircraft

Japan Airlines (JL)(1980-) – on NZ aircraft

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)(2000-) – on MH aircraft

Lufthansa German Airlines (LH)(Cargo own-aircraft 2001-2003, Cargo code-share 1991-2005, Pax. codeshare 1995-) - on NZ, SQ and TG aircraft

Mexicana (MX)(1999-) – on NZ aircraft

Scandinavian Airlines System (SK)(2007-) – on TG aircraft

Shanghai Airlines (FM)(2007-) – on NZ aircraft

United Airlines (UA)(Own-aircraft 1986-2003, Code-share 2003-) – on NZ aircraft – took over from Pan American

US Airways (US)(2007-) – on NZ aircraft

Quadracentifiable Quake Definition

Quadracentifiable has been defined (again) by us! We have decided that Quadracentifiable is a describing word for the Canterbury Earthquake on the 4th September 2010. In other words, it was a quadracentifiable quake. It was a Quadracentifiablequake because it:

Caused 400x (quadra, centi) certain (fiable) devastation to what most Cantab’s have ever experienced. On a side note, originally it was measured as a 7.4 magnitude on the Richter Scale – not 7.1. We shall consider it a 7.4 because we have made up the extra .3 in Quadracentifiable aftershocks!!!

Bridge to South Shore, Chch cut off after quadracentifiable earthquake

So to take advantage of Jetstar expanding its flights NZ operations and the seventh Airbus A320 aircraft in New Zealand later this year, which will be able to fly domestic or international routes, you can very soon book this online. 0800flyaway.co.nz

The Low-fare airline also considered arranging two-class A330-200 aircraft to support long-haul international services to New Zealand. The Company was also planning to start direct services to Asia and North America as well as, three or four new routes on the Tasman, shared Chief Executive Bruce Buchanan.

Extra 50 jobs would also be created in Jetstar’s flights NZ operations, including in the pilot, cabin crew, engineering and airport customer services, by the seventh A320.

0800Flyaway.co.nz flights NZ

Jetstar will add two new A3-20 aircraft to its flights NZ fleet by early next year to allow an extra 39 weekly flights between Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.

The airline will be  adding extra flights NZ between Auckland and Queenstown before Christmas, more flights that should drive down prices.

Remember that if you book with a Travel Agent and use our online booking system you get the deals and the security.

The Australian-owned carrier says as well as creating jobs it will bring down prices.

Air New Zealand is also planning to increase its domestic flights but Jetstar says it’s confident there will be sufficient demand for the added capacity.

Jetstar Group chief executive Bruce Buchanan said the airline is committed to delivering more low fares and frequencies on New Zealand’s high-traffic routes.

New Zealand chief executive David Hall said the new flights offer timely support for NZ tourism and regional economies, especially with the Rugby World Cup in 2011.